November 30, 2000

Charlie's Angels

By PETER M. NICHOLS

VIOLENCE Plenty of explosions and wild brawls with fast footwork to the head, but none of it is to be taken too seriously.

SEX Lots of skin but no action.

PROFANITY Slightly off-color in places, but little obscenity, if any.

FOR WHICH CHILDREN?

UNDER AGE 10 Not ideal entertainment for small children.

AGES 10 AND UP Women's empowerment and other social matters are mentioned in connection with this film, but it is straight bubble-headed fluff. Parents' decision, but the only damage might be to the intellect.

n a plane someone jokes about having to watch another movie based on an old television show. But there's no time to complain in this case, as a latex mask comes off, the plane door is blown open, and a bunch of people go tumbling through the sky in a scene more derivative of a James Bond movie than the "Charlie's Angels" series, which ran on ABC from 1976 to 1981.

Don't concern yourself with plot; this movie is for girl-watching. Natalie (Ms. Diaz) is a gorgeous ditherer who, as has been Ms. Diaz's habit in other roles, plays against her looks. Alex (Ms. Liu) is the toughie who squints at the camera and flings her hair in slow motion. Dylan (Ms. Barrymore) is the lusty one who trails her man problems the way others spill popcorn.

They work for Charlie, a mysterious, anonymous figure who sends them on dangerous assignments. During Hong Kong fight sequences, they run up walls as if they were in "The Matrix." But they love fun, too, and food fights and their sidekick, Bosley (Mr. Murray).

The bad one is Eric Knox (Mr. Rockwell), a geeky computer billionaire in sneakers who later turns leering and murderous. "Audio DNA" is involved, and satellites and Formula One race cars. And gold lamé bikinis.